Display control device and display control method

ABSTRACT

A display control device for controlling a display device displaying a driver support image to have an overlap with a view from a driver seat in a vehicle or a live-action video in front of the vehicle, the display control device includes: a video signal generation unit generating a video signal for displaying a driver support image to have an overlap with the travelable traffic lane, and a video signal output unit. The driver support image having the overlap with the travelable traffic lane has a width in a width direction of the traffic lane and extends in a direction in which the traffic lane extends. The driver support image having the overlap with the region other than the travelable traffic lane is an image in which the travelable traffic lane can be distinguished according to a width and a length.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a display control device and a displaycontrol method.

BACKGROUND ART

Known is a technique of displaying an arrow indicating a movement of avehicle going straight, turning right, and turning left, using a head updisplay (HUD), for example, so that a navigation device of the vehiclemakes a driver recognize a route in advance. Also known is a techniqueof displaying an image to have an overlap with a view from a driver seatin the vehicle, thereby making a driver recognize a route in advance(refer to Patent Documents 1 to 4, for example).

PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS Patent Documents

-   Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.    2012-220489-   Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.    2006-350617-   Patent Document 3: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.    2014-181927-   Patent Document 4: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.    2000-211452

SUMMARY Problem to be Solved by the Invention

However, in a case where there are many traffic lanes in a road or thereis a complex branch in an intersection, for example, a driver of avehicle may be at a loss which traffic lane to travel in some cases. Ina road with no lane edge line, for example, a driver of a vehicle may beat a loss whether the driver can travel along the road in some cases.

When the driver of the vehicle is at a loss for the determination of acourse and takes a wrong route, there is a problem that energy fordriving the vehicle is wasted to return the vehicle to a correct route.Accordingly, there is increasing demand for making the driver recognizemore reliably the travelable traffic lane along which the driver cantravel.

The present invention has been achieved to solve problems as describedabove, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a displaycontrol device and a display control method controlling a displaydevice, thereby making a driver recognize a travelable traffic lane.

Means to Solve the Problem

A display control device according to the present invention is a displaycontrol device which controls a display device displaying a driversupport image to have an overlap with a view from a driver seat in avehicle or a live-action video in front of the vehicle. The displaycontrol device includes a vehicle position acquisition unit acquiring acurrent position of the vehicle, a feature data acquisition unitacquiring feature data regarding a road in front of the vehicle, atravelable traffic lane determination unit determining a travelabletraffic lane along which the vehicle can travel in the road in front ofthe vehicle based on the current position of the vehicle and the featuredata, a video signal generation unit generating a video signal fordisplaying the driver support image to have an overlap with thetravelable traffic lane or a video signal for displaying the driversupport image to have an overlap with a region other than the travelabletraffic lane, and a video signal output unit outputting the video signalto the display device. The driver support image having the overlap withthe travelable traffic lane has a width in a width direction of thetraffic lane and extends in a direction in which the traffic laneextends. The driver support image having the overlap with the regionother than the travelable traffic lane is an image in which thetravelable traffic lane can be distinguished according to a width and alength.

A display control method according to the present invention is a displaycontrol method of controlling a display device which displays a driversupport image to have an overlap with a view from a driver seat in avehicle or a live-action video in front of the vehicle. The displaycontrol method includes acquiring a current position of the vehicle,acquiring feature data regarding a road in front of the vehicle,determining a travelable traffic lane along which the vehicle can travelin the road in front of the vehicle based on the current position of thevehicle and the feature data, generating a video signal for displayingthe driver support image to have an overlap with the travelable trafficlane or a video signal for displaying the driver support image to havean overlap with a region other than the travelable traffic lane, andoutputting the video signal to the display device. The driver supportimage having the overlap with the travelable traffic lane has a width ina width direction of the traffic lane and extends in a direction inwhich the traffic lane extends. The driver support image having theoverlap with the region other than the travelable traffic lane is animage in which the travelable traffic lane can be distinguishedaccording to a width and a length.

Effects of the Invention

According to the display control device and the display control methodin the present invention, the driver support image is displayed to havethe overlap with the travelable traffic lane in the view from the driverseat in the vehicle or the live-action video in front of the vehicle,thus the driver can effectively recognize the travelable traffic lane.Moreover, the driver support image is displayed to have the overlap withthe region other than the travelable traffic lane in the view from thedriver seat in the vehicle or the live-action video in front of thevehicle, thus the driver can effectively recognize the travelabletraffic lane. The display of the driver support image suppresses adeviation of the vehicle from a correct route, thus energy wasted toreturn the vehicle to the correct route can be suppressed.

According to the display control device and the display control methodin the present invention, the driver support image having the overlapwith the travelable traffic lane has the width in the width direction ofthe traffic lane and extends in the direction in which the traffic laneextends, thus visibility of the driver support image can be increased.

These and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the presentinvention will become more apparent from the following detaileddescription of the present invention when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 A block diagram of a display control device according to anembodiment 1.

FIG. 2 A hardware configuration diagram of the display control deviceaccording to the embodiment 1.

FIG. 3 A hardware configuration diagram of the display control deviceaccording to the embodiment 1.

FIG. 4 A flow chart illustrating an operation of the display controldevice according to the embodiment 1.

FIG. 5 A pattern diagram illustrating an example of a driver supportimage which the display control device according to the embodiment 1makes a display device display and a view from a driver seat in avehicle.

FIG. 6 A pattern diagram illustrating an example of a driver supportimage which a display control device according to an embodiment 2 makesa display device display and a view from a driver seat in a vehicle.

FIG. 7 A pattern diagram illustrating an example of a driver supportimage which a display control device according to an embodiment 3 makesa display device display and a view from a driver seat in a vehicle.

FIG. 8 A pattern diagram illustrating an example of a driver supportimage which the display control device according to the embodiment 3makes the display device display and a view from a driver seat in avehicle.

FIG. 9 A pattern diagram illustrating an example of a driver supportimage which the display control device according to the embodiment 3makes the display device display and a view from a driver seat in avehicle.

FIG. 10 A pattern diagram illustrating an example of a driver supportimage which the display control device according to the embodiment 3makes the display device display and a view from a driver seat in avehicle.

FIG. 11 A pattern diagram illustrating an example of a driver supportimage which a display control device according to an embodiment 4 makesthe display device display and a view from a driver seat in a vehicle.

FIG. 12 A pattern diagram illustrating an example of a driver supportimage which the display control device according to the embodiment 4makes the display device display and a view from a driver seat in avehicle.

FIG. 13 A flow chart illustrating an operation of a display controldevice according to an embodiment 5.

FIG. 14 A pattern diagram illustrating an example of a driver supportimage which the display control device according to the embodiment 5makes the display device display and a view from a driver seat in avehicle.

FIG. 15 A pattern diagram illustrating an example of a driver supportimage which a display control device according to an embodiment 6 makesthe display device display and a view from a driver seat in a vehicle.

FIG. 16 A pattern diagram illustrating an example of a driver supportimage which a display control device according to an embodiment 7 makesthe display device display and a view from a driver seat in a vehicle.

FIG. 17 A pattern diagram illustrating an example of a driver supportimage which a display control device according to an embodiment 8 makesthe display device display and a view from a driver seat in a vehicle.

FIG. 18 A block diagram of a display control device according to anembodiment 9.

FIG. 19 A pattern diagram illustrating an example of a driver supportimage which the display control device according to the embodiment 9makes the display device display and a view from a driver seat in avehicle.

FIG. 20 A block diagram of a display control device according to anembodiment 10.

FIG. 21 A pattern diagram illustrating an example of a driver supportimage which the display control device according to the embodiment 10makes the display device display and a view from a driver seat in avehicle.

FIG. 22 A block diagram of a display control device according to anembodiment 11.

FIG. 23 A block diagram of a display control device according to anembodiment 12.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT(S) Embodiment 1

<Configuration>

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a display control device 100 in a presentembodiment 1. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the display control device 100includes a vehicle position acquisition unit 1, a feature dataacquisition unit 2, a travelable traffic lane determination unit 3, avideo signal generation unit 4, and a video signal output unit 5.

The display control device 100 controls a display device displaying adriver support image to have an overlap with a view from a driver seatin a vehicle. Herein, the display device 100 is a display devicedisplaying a video through a windshield of the vehicle, and is an HUD,for example. In the present specification, a vehicle with a displaydevice controlled by the display control device 100 is simply referredto as a “vehicle”.

The vehicle position acquisition unit 1 acquires a current position ofthe vehicle. The feature data acquisition unit 2 acquires feature dataregarding a road. The travelable traffic lane determination unit 3determines a travelable traffic lane along which the vehicle can travelin a road in front of the vehicle based on the current position of thevehicle and the feature data.

The video signal generation unit 4 generates a video signal displayed bythe display device. The video signal displayed by the display device isa video signal for displaying the driver support image to have anoverlap with the travelable traffic lane. The video signal output unit 5outputs a video signal to the display device.

In the present embodiment 1, the driver support image having the overlapwith the travelable traffic lane is an image having a width in a widthdirection of the traffic lane and extending in a direction in which thetraffic lane extends.

FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of the display control device100. A processing circuit HW1 achieves each function of the vehicleposition acquisition unit 1, the feature data acquisition unit 2, thetravelable traffic lane determination unit 3, the video signalgeneration unit 4, and the video signal output unit 5 in the displaycontrol device 100. That is to say, the display control device 100includes a processing device for performing processing of acquiring thecurrent position of the vehicle, acquiring the feature data regardingthe road, determining the available traffic lane along which the vehiclecan travel in the road in front of the vehicle based on the currentposition of the vehicle and the feature data, generating the videosignal for displaying the driver support image to have the overlap withthe travelable traffic lane, and outputting the video signal to thedisplay device. A processing circuit HW2 may be dedicated hardware or aCPU (also referred to as a Central Processing Unit, a processing device,an arithmetic device, a microprocessor, a microcomputer, a processor,and a digital signal processor (DSP)) for executing a program stored ina memory.

When the processing circuit HW1 is the dedicated hardware, a singlecircuit, a complex circuit, a programmed processor, aparallel-programmed processor, an application specific integratedcircuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), or a circuitcombining them, for example, falls under the processing circuit HW1. Theprocessing circuit may achieve each function of the vehicle positionacquisition unit 1, the feature data acquisition unit 2, the travelabletraffic lane determination unit 3, the video signal generation unit 4,and the video signal output unit 5, and one processing circuit maycollectively achieve the function of each unit.

When the processing circuit HW1 is a processor, each function of thevehicle position acquisition unit 1, the feature data acquisition unit2, the travelable traffic lane determination unit 3, the video signalgeneration unit 4, and the video signal output unit 5 is achieved by acombination of software (software, firmware, or a combination ofsoftware and firmware), for example. The software, for example, isdescribed as a program and is stored in a memory HW3. The processor HW2applied to the processing circuit HW1 reads out and executes the programstored in the memory HW3, thereby achieving the function of each unit.That is to say, the display control device 100 includes the memory HW3for storing programs to resultingly execute, when executed by theprocessing circuit HW1, a step of acquiring the current position of thevehicle, a step of acquiring the feature data regarding the road, a stepof determining the travelable traffic lane along which the vehicle cantravel in the road in front of the vehicle based on the current positionof the vehicle and the feature data, a step of generating the videosignal for displaying the driver support image to have the overlap withthe travelable traffic lane, and a step of outputting the video signalto the display device. These programs are deemed to make the computerexecute a procedure or a method of the vehicle position acquisition unit1, the feature data acquisition unit 2, the travelable traffic lanedetermination unit 3, the video signal generation unit 4, and the videosignal output unit 5. Herein, the memory HW3 may be a non-volatile orvolatile semiconductor memory such as a random access memory (RAM), aread only memory (ROM), a flash memory, an erasable programmable readonly memory (EPROM), or an electrically erasable programmable read-onlymemory (EEPROM), a magnetic disc, a flexible disc, an optical disc, acompact disc, a mini disc, or a digital versatile disc (DVD), forexample, or any storage medium which will be used in the future.

It is also applicable to achieve a part of the function of the vehicleposition acquisition unit 1, the feature data acquisition unit 2, thetravelable traffic lane determination unit 3, the video signalgeneration unit 4, and the video signal output unit 5 by dedicatedhardware and achieve another part thereof by software or firmware. Asdescribed above, the processing circuit HW1 can achieve each functiondescribed above by hardware, software, firmware, or a combinationthereof.

<Operation>

FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating an operation of the display controldevice 100 in the present embodiment 1. FIG. 5 is a pattern diagramillustrating an example of the driver support image which the displaycontrol device 100 makes the display device display and a view from adriver seat in a vehicle. FIG. 5 is a pattern diagram, thus theillustration of a signal, a stop line, a sidewalk, and a crosswalk, forexample, is omitted.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, assumed is a state where roads L1, L2, L3, andL4 are connected to an intersection N1. Herein, the intersection is alsoreferred to as a node. A road connecting intersections is also referredto as a link. The road L1 includes traffic lanes L11 to L15. The trafficlanes L11, L12, and L13 are traffic lanes extending in a travelingdirection of the vehicle, and the traffic lanes L14 and L15 are oppositetraffic lanes. The road L2 includes traffic lanes L21 to L25. Thetraffic lanes L21, L22, and L23 are traffic lanes extending in thetraveling direction of the vehicle, and the traffic lanes L24 and L25are opposite traffic lanes. The vehicle travels along the traffic laneL12 along which the vehicle can only go straight in the road L1illustrated in FIG. 5.

Firstly, the vehicle position acquisition unit 1 acquires a currentposition of the vehicle (Step S101). The current position of the vehicleis calculated using information obtained from a global positioningsystem (GPS), a sensor mounted on the vehicle, and a camera mounted onthe vehicle, for example.

Next, the feature data acquisition unit 2 acquires feature dataregarding a road in front of the vehicle (Step S102). Herein, the roadin front of the vehicle in FIG. 5 indicates the road L1 along which thevehicle currently travels and the roads L2, L3, and L4 connected to theroad L1 via the intersection N1. The feature data regarding the roadincludes information regarding, for example, a link length, a road widthclassification, the number of traffic lanes, a traffic lane width, aroad crossing, a division line for dividing each traffic lane, atraveling direction of each traffic lane (right turn lane, left turnlane, and straight lane), for example. The feature data acquisition unit2 may acquire the feature data regarding the road by communicating witha server device storing the feature data or may acquire the feature dataregarding the road from a database mounted on the vehicle.

A camera acquiring a live-action video in front of the vehicle may bemounted on the vehicle. The feature data acquisition unit 2 may acquirethe feature data regarding the road by analyzing the live-action videoin front of the vehicle. The analysis of the live-action videoindicates, for example, an operation of recognizing a traffic lane basedon a detection of a road sign including a white line.

Next, the travelable traffic lane determination unit 3 determines thetravelable traffic lane in the road in front of the vehicle (Step S103).The travelable traffic lane determination unit 3 determines that thetraffic lane L22 in the road L2 in front of the vehicle is thetravelable traffic lane from the traffic lane L12 in the road L1 wherethe vehicle is currently located via the intersection N1. The travelabletraffic lane determination unit 3 determines that the traffic lanes L21and L23 on a right and left sides of the traffic lane L22 are also thetravelable traffic lanes.

Then, the video signal generation unit 4 generates the video signal fordisplaying the driver support image to have the overlap with thetravelable traffic lane in the view from the driver seat of the vehicle(Step S104). As illustrated in FIG. 5, the video signal generation unit4 makes a driver support image IMG10 have an overlap with the trafficlanes L12 and L22 to link the traffic lane L12 where the vehicle iscurrently located and the travelable traffic lane L22. It is applicableas described in an embodiment 2 that the driver support image has theoverlap with the traffic lanes L21 and L23 which are the travelabletraffic lanes, however, in the present embodiment 1, the driver supportimage IMG10 has the overlap with only the traffic lane L22 located on anextension of the traffic lane L12. Then, the video signal output unit 5outputs the video signal generated by the video signal generation unit 4to the display device (Step S105).

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the driver support image IMG10 is an imagehaving a width in a width direction of the traffic lanes L12 and L22 andextending in a direction in which the traffic lanes extend. The driversupport image IMG10 is a transparent image, thus a driver can visuallyrecognize an actual road through the driver support image IMG10.

A sequence of the processing from Step S101 to Step S105 in FIG. 4described above is constantly repeated, and a latest driver supportimage IMG10 is constantly displayed on the display device. That is tosay, the driver support image IMG10 displayed on the display devicechanges in accordance with a change of a position of the vehicle duringtraveling.

In the display control device 100 according to the present embodiment 1,the driver support image is displayed to have the overlap with the viewfrom the driver seat in the vehicle, however, it is also applicable thatthe display control device 100 acquires the live-action video in frontof the vehicle, and makes the display device display the driver supportimage to have the overlap with the live-action video in front of thevehicle. In this case, the display device is a liquid crystal displaylocated in an instrument panel of the vehicle, for example.

In the display control device 100 according to the present embodiment 1,as described in an embodiment 5, the video signal generation unit 4 maygenerate the video signal for displaying the driver support image tohave the overlap with a region other than the travelable traffic lane.

<Effect>

The display control device 100 according to the present embodiment 1 isa display control device which controls a display device displaying adriver support image to have an overlap with a view from a driver seatin a vehicle or a live-action video in front of the vehicle. The displaycontrol device 100 includes a vehicle position acquisition unit 1acquiring a current position of the vehicle, a feature data acquisitionunit 2 acquiring feature data regarding a road in front of the vehicle,a travelable traffic lane determination unit 3 determining a travelabletraffic lane along which the vehicle can travel in the road in front ofthe vehicle based on the current position of the vehicle and the featuredata, a video signal generation unit 4 generating a video signal fordisplaying the driver support image to have an overlap with thetravelable traffic lane or a video signal for displaying the driversupport image to have an overlap with a region other than the travelabletraffic lane, and a video signal output unit 5 outputting the videosignal to the display device. The driver support image having theoverlap with the travelable traffic lane has a width in a widthdirection of the traffic lane and extends in a direction in which thetraffic lane extends. The driver support image having the overlap withthe region other than the travelable traffic lane is an image in whichthe travelable traffic lane can be distinguished according to a widthand a length.

Thus, according to the display control device 100 and the displaycontrol method in the present embodiment 1, the driver support image isdisplayed to have the overlap with the travelable traffic lane in theview from the driver seat in the vehicle or the live-action video infront of the vehicle, thus the driver can effectively recognize thetravelable traffic lane. Moreover, the driver support image is displayedto have the overlap with the region other than the travelable trafficlane in the view from the driver seat in the vehicle or the live-actionvideo in front of the vehicle, thus the driver can effectively recognizethe travelable traffic lane. The display of the driver support imagesuppresses a deviation of the vehicle from a correct route, thus energywasted to return the vehicle to the correct route can be suppressed.

According to the display control device 100 and the display controlmethod in the present embodiment 1, the driver support image having theoverlap with the travelable traffic lane has the width in the widthdirection of the traffic lane and extends in the direction in which thetraffic lane extends, thus visibility of the driver support image can beincreased.

In the display control device 100 according to the present embodiment 1,when the road in front of the vehicle includes the intersection, thevideo signal generation unit 4 makes the driver support image have theoverlap to link the traffic lane where the vehicle is currently locatedand the traffic lane in the road ahead of the intersection.

Thus, the driver can recognize the course in the intersection.Accordingly, the deviation of the vehicle from the correct route issuppressed, thus the energy wasted to return the vehicle to the correctroute can be suppressed.

In the display control device 100 according to the present embodiment 1,the travelable traffic lane determination unit 3 determines the trafficlane along which the vehicle can travel in the road of which anavigation device of the vehicle performs a route guidance in the roadin front of the vehicle. Even when the navigation device of the vehicleperforms the route guidance, the driver support image can be displayed,thus the deviation of the vehicle from the correct route is suppressedin the route guidance, and the energy wasted to return the vehicle tothe correct route can be suppressed.

Embodiment 2

A display control device 200 according to a present embodiment 2 has thesame configuration as the display control device 100 according to theembodiment 1 (FIG. 1), thus a description thereof is omitted. In thedisplay control device 200 according to the present embodiment 2, anoperation of the video signal generation unit 4 is different from thatin the embodiment 1.

In the display control device 200 according to the present embodiment 2,when there are a plurality of travelable traffic lanes in the road infront of the vehicle, the video signal generation unit 4 generates avideo signal for displaying the driver support image to have an overlapwith each of the plurality of travelable traffic lanes.

FIG. 6 is a pattern diagram illustrating an example of the driversupport image which the display control device 200 makes the displaydevice display and a view from a driver seat in a vehicle. The vehicletravels along the traffic lane L12 along which the vehicle can only gostraight in the road L1 illustrated in FIG. 6. The plurality of trafficlanes L23, L24, and L25 in the road L2 in front of the vehicle are thetravelable traffic lanes from the traffic lane L12 in the road L1 wherethe vehicle is currently located via the intersection N1.

In this case, the video signal generation unit 4 makes driver supportimages IMG11, IMG10, and IMG12 have an overlap with the traffic lanesL21, L22, and L23, respectively, to link the traffic lane L12 where thevehicle is currently located and each of the travelable traffic lanesL21, L22, and L23.

It is also applicable that the display control device 200 includes anoperation input unit such as a touch panel, and the driver operates theoperation input unit, thereby being able to switch between a setting ofmaking the driver support image IMG10 have the overlap with only onetraffic lane L22 as illustrated in FIG. 5 and a setting of making thedriver support images IMG11, IMG10, and IMG12 have the overlap with theplurality of traffic lanes L21, L22, and L23, respectively, asillustrated in FIG. 6.

<Effect>

In the display control device 200 according to the present embodiment 2,when there are the plurality of travelable traffic lanes in one road infront of the vehicle, the video signal generation unit 4 generates thevideo signal for displaying the driver support image to have the overlapwith each of the plurality of travelable traffic lanes.

According to the display control device 200 in the present embodiment 2,the driver support image is displayed to have the overlap with theplurality of travelable traffic lanes in one road. Thus, the driver caneffectively recognize the travelable traffic lanes even when there aremany traffic lanes in the road. Accordingly, the deviation of thevehicle from the correct route is suppressed, thus the energy wasted toreturn the vehicle to the correct route can be suppressed.

Embodiment 3

A display control device 300 according to a present embodiment 3 has thesame configuration as the display control device 100 according to theembodiment 1 (FIG. 1), thus a description thereof is omitted. In thedisplay control device 300 according to the present embodiment 3, anoperation of the video signal generation unit 4 is different from thatin the embodiment 1.

In the display control device 300 according to the present embodiment 3,when there are a plurality of travelable traffic lanes in one road infront of the vehicle, the video signal generation unit 4 generates avideo signal for displaying the driver support image to have an overlapwith each of the plurality of travelable traffic lanes in a display formbased on a predetermined priority order.

In the present embodiment 3, the video signal generation unit 4 makes adriver support image with a larger width have an overlap with each ofthe plurality of travelable traffic lanes with increase in priority.

FIG. 7 is a pattern diagram illustrating an example of the driversupport image which the display control device 300 makes the displaydevice display and a view from a driver seat in a vehicle. The vehicletravels along the traffic lane L12 along which the vehicle can only gostraight in the road L1 illustrated in FIG. 7. The traffic lanes L21,L22, and L23 in the road L2 in front of the vehicle are the travelabletraffic lanes from the traffic lane L12 in the road L1 where the vehicleis currently located via the intersection N1.

The traffic lane L22 is located on an extension of the traffic lane L12in the road L1 where the vehicle is currently located, thus the priorityorder of the traffic lane L22 is set highest. The priority order of eachof the traffic lanes L21 and L23 on the right and left sides of thetraffic lane L22 is set second highest after the traffic lane L22.

In the example in FIG. 7, the driver support image IMG10 with the largewidth has the overlap with the traffic lane L22 having the highestpriority. The driver support images IMG13 and IMG14 with the smallerwidth than that of the driver support image IMG10 have the overlap withthe traffic lanes L21 and L23 having the second highest priority afterthe traffic lane L22, respectively.

In the present embodiment 3, the video signal generation unit 4 may makea driver support image with a longer shape have an overlap with each ofthe plurality of travelable traffic lanes with increase in priority.

FIG. 8 is a pattern diagram illustrating an example of the driversupport image which the display control device 300 makes the displaydevice display and a view from a driver seat in a vehicle. The vehicletravels along the traffic lane L11 along which the vehicle can only turnleft in the road L1 illustrated in FIG. 8. Traffic lanes L31, L32, andL33 in the road L3 in front of the vehicle are the travelable trafficlanes from the traffic lane L11 in the road L1 where the vehicle iscurrently located via the intersection N1. A traffic lane L34 in theroad L3 is an opposite traffic lane.

The traffic lane L11 in the road L1 where the vehicle is currentlylocated is a leftmost traffic lane in the road L1. Accordingly, thepriority order of the traffic lane L31 located on the leftmost side inthe road L2 with respect to the traveling direction is set highest. Thepriority order of the traffic lane L32 located next to the traffic laneL31 is set second highest after the traffic lane L31. The priority orderof the traffic lane L33 located next to the traffic lane L32 is setsecond highest after the traffic lane L32.

In the example in FIG. 8, the driver support image IMG20 with a longestshape has the overlap with the traffic lane L31 having the highestpriority. The driver support image IMG21 with a shorter shape than thatof the driver support image IMG20 has the overlap with the traffic laneL32 having the second highest priority after the traffic lane L31. Thedriver support image IMG22 with a shorter shape than that of the driversupport image IMG21 has the overlap with the traffic lane L33 having thesecond highest priority after the traffic lane L32.

In the present embodiment 3, the video signal generation unit 4 may makea driver support image with a deeper color have an overlap with each ofthe plurality of travelable traffic lanes with increase in priority.

FIG. 9 is a pattern diagram illustrating an example of the driversupport image which the display control device 300 makes the displaydevice display and a view from a driver seat in a vehicle. The vehicletravels along the traffic lane L13 along which the vehicle can only turnright in the road L1 illustrated in FIG. 9. Traffic lanes L41, L42, andL43 in the road L4 in front of the vehicle are the travelable trafficlanes from the traffic lane L13 in the road L1 where the vehicle iscurrently located via the intersection N1. A traffic lane L44 in theroad L4 is an opposite traffic lane.

The traffic lane L13 in the road L1 where the vehicle is currentlylocated is a rightmost traffic lane except the opposite traffic lanesL14 and L15. Accordingly, the priority order of the traffic lane L43located on the rightmost side in the travelable traffic lane in the roadL3 with respect to the traveling direction of the vehicle is sethighest. The priority order of the traffic lane L42 located next to thetraffic lane L43 is set second highest after the traffic lane L43. Thepriority order of the traffic lane L41 located next to the traffic laneL42 is set second highest after the traffic lane L42.

In the example in FIG. 9, the driver support image IMG30 with a deepestcolor has the overlap with the traffic lane L43 having the highestpriority. The driver support image IMG31 with a lighter color than thatof the driver support image IMG30 has the overlap with the traffic laneL42 having the second highest priority after the traffic lane L43. Thedriver support image IMG32 with a lighter color than that of the driversupport image IMG31 has the overlap with the traffic lane L41 having thesecond highest priority after the traffic lane L42.

In the present embodiment 3, the video signal generation unit 4 may makea driver support image have an overlap with a traffic lane having thehighest priority in the plurality of travelable traffic lanes, and maymake an image of an arrow have an overlap with and indicate the othertravelable traffic lane.

FIG. 10 is a pattern diagram illustrating an example of the driversupport image which the display control device 300 makes the displaydevice display and a view from a driver seat in a vehicle. The vehicletravels along the traffic lane L12 along which the vehicle can only gostraight in the road L1 illustrated in FIG. 10. The traffic lanes L21,L22, and L23 in the road L2 in front of the vehicle are the travelabletraffic lanes from the traffic lane L12 in the road L1 where the vehicleis currently located via the intersection N1, and the priority order ofthe traffic lane L22 is set highest.

In the example in FIG. 10, the driver support image IMG10 has theoverlap with the traffic lane L22 having the highest priority. Arrowimages IMG15 and IMG16 have an overlap with and indicate the travelabletraffic lanes L21 and L23, respectively, other than the traffic lane L22having the highest priority

<Effect>

In the display control device 300 according to the present embodiment 3,the video signal generation unit 4 generates the video signal fordisplaying the driver support image to have the overlap with each of theplurality of travelable traffic lanes in the display form based on thepredetermined priority order.

Thus, according to the display control device 300 in the presentembodiment 3, the plurality of travelable traffic lanes are displayed inthe display form based on the predetermined priority order. Accordingly,the driver can effectively recognize which traffic lane has the highestpriority in the plurality of travelable traffic lanes.

In the display control device 300 according to the present embodiment 3,the driver support image displayed to have the overlap with theplurality of travelable traffic lanes is displayed with the deeper colorwith increase in a predetermined priority of the travelable trafficlane.

Accordingly, the driver support image is displayed with the deeper colorwith increase in priority on the plurality of travelable traffic lanes,thus the driver can recognize more effectively which traffic lane hasthe high priority.

In the display control device 300 according to the present embodiment 3,the driver support image displayed to have the overlap with theplurality of travelable traffic lanes is displayed with the longer shapewith increase in the predetermined priority of the travelable trafficlane.

Accordingly, the driver support image is displayed with the longer shapewith increase in priority on the plurality of travelable traffic lanes,thus the driver can recognize more effectively which traffic lane hasthe high priority.

In the display control device 300 according to the present embodiment 3,the driver support image displayed to have the overlap with theplurality of travelable traffic lanes is displayed with the larger widthwith increase in the predetermined priority of the travelable trafficlane.

Accordingly, the driver support image is displayed with the larger widthwith increase in priority on the plurality of travelable traffic lanes,thus the driver can recognize more effectively which traffic lane hasthe high priority.

In the display control device 300 according to the present embodiment 3,the driver support image is displayed to have the overlap with thetraffic lane having the highest predetermined priority in the pluralityof travelable traffic lanes, and the image of the arrow has an overlapwith and indicates the other travelable traffic lane. Accordingly, thedriver can recognize more effectively the traffic lane having thehighest priority. The driver can also recognize the traffic lane whichdoes not have so high priority by the display of the image of the arrow.

Embodiment 4

A display control device 400 according to a present embodiment 4 has thesame configuration as the display control device 100 according to theembodiment 1 (FIG. 1), thus a description thereof is omitted. In thedisplay control device 400 according to the present embodiment 4, anoperation of the video signal generation unit 4 is different from thatin the embodiment 1.

In the display control device 400 according to the present embodiment 4,when the road in front of the vehicle branches off into a plurality ofroads and each of the plurality of branched roads includes thetravelable traffic lane, the video signal generation unit 4 generates avideo signal for displaying the driver support image to have an overlapwith each of the travelable traffic lanes in the plurality of branchedroads.

FIG. 11 is a pattern diagram illustrating an example of the driversupport image which the display control device 400 makes the displaydevice display and a view from a driver seat in a vehicle. The vehicletravels along the traffic lane L11 along which the vehicle can gostraight or turn left in the road L1 illustrated in FIG. 11. Thetravelable traffic lane determination unit 3 determines that the trafficlanes L21, L22, and L23 in the road L2 in front of the vehicle are thetravelable traffic lanes from the traffic lane L11 of the road L1 wherethe vehicle is currently located via the intersection N1. The travelabletraffic lane determination unit 2 determines that the traffic lanes L31,L32, and L33 in the road L3 in front of the vehicle are the travelabletraffic lanes from the traffic lane L11 of the road L1 where the vehicleis currently located via the intersection N1.

As illustrated in FIG. 11, the video signal generation unit 4 makes adriver support image IMG40 have an overlap with the traffic lanes L11and L21 to link the traffic lane L11 where the vehicle is currentlylocated and the travelable traffic lane L21 in the road L2. Herein, thetraffic lane L21 with which the driver support image IMG40 has theoverlap is a traffic lane having the highest priority in the trafficlanes L21, L22, and L23. The video signal generation unit 4 furthermakes a driver support image IMG50 have an overlap with the travelabletraffic lane L31 in the road L3. The traffic lane L31 with which thedriver support image IMG50 has the overlap is a traffic lane having thehighest priority in the traffic lanes L31, L32, and L33.

The driver support image may be displayed with different colors inaccordance with a difference of the traveling direction by displayingthe driver support image IMG40 indicating the vehicle going straightwith a blue color and displaying the driver support image IMG50indicating the vehicle turning left with a brown color, for example.

As illustrated in FIG. 11, the video signal generation unit 4 may makearrow images IMG41 and IMG42 have an overlap with and indicate each ofthe travelable traffic lanes L22 and L23, respectively, other than thetraffic lane L21 having the highest priority in the road L2.

In the similar manner, as illustrated in FIG. 11, the video signalgeneration unit 4 may make arrow images IMG51 and IMG52 have an overlapwith and indicate each of the travelable traffic lanes L32 and L33,respectively, other than the traffic lane L31 having the highestpriority in the road L3.

FIG. 12 is a pattern diagram illustrating an example of the driversupport image which the display control device 400 makes the displaydevice display and a view from a driver seat in a vehicle. The vehicletravels along the traffic lane L13 along which the vehicle can gostraight or turn right in the road L1 illustrated in FIG. 12. Thetravelable traffic lane determination unit 3 determines that the trafficlanes L21, L22, and L23 in the road L2 in front of the vehicle are thetravelable traffic lanes from the traffic lane L13 of the road L1 wherethe vehicle is currently located via the intersection N1. The travelabletraffic lane determination unit 3 determines that the traffic lanes L41,L42, and L43 in the road L4 in front of the vehicle are the travelabletraffic lanes from the traffic lane L13 of the road L1 where the vehicleis currently located via the intersection N1.

As illustrated in FIG. 12, the video signal generation unit 4 makes adriver support image IMG60 have an overlap with the traffic lanes L13and L23 to link the traffic lane L13 where the vehicle is currentlylocated and the travelable traffic lane L23 in the road L2. Herein, thetraffic lane L23 with which the driver support image IMG60 has theoverlap is a traffic lane having the highest priority in the trafficlanes L21, L22, and L23. The video signal generation unit 4 furthermakes a driver support image IMG70 have an overlap with the travelabletraffic lane L43 in the road L4. The traffic lane L43 with which thedriver support image IMG70 has the overlap is a traffic lane having thehighest priority in the traffic lanes L41, L42, and L43.

The driver support image may be displayed with different colors inaccordance with a difference of the traveling direction by displayingthe driver support image IMG60 indicating the vehicle going straightwith a blue color and displaying the driver support image IMG70indicating the vehicle turning right with a green color, for example.

As illustrated in FIG. 12, the video signal generation unit 4 may makearrow images IMG61 and IMG62 have an overlap with and indicate each ofthe travelable traffic lanes L22 and L23, respectively, other than thetraffic lane L23 having the highest priority in the road L2.

In the similar manner, as illustrated in FIG. 12, the video signalgeneration unit 4 may make arrow images IMG71 and IMG72 have an overlapwith and indicate each of the travelable traffic lanes L41 and L42,respectively, other than the traffic lane L43 having the highestpriority in the road L4.

<Effect>

In the display control device 400 according to the present embodiment 4,when the road in front of the vehicle branches off into a plurality ofroads and each of the plurality of branched roads includes thetravelable traffic lane, the video signal generation unit 4 generates avideo signal for displaying the driver support image to have an overlapwith each of the travelable traffic lanes in the plurality of branchedroads.

When each of the branched roads includes the travelable traffic lane,the driver support image is displayed to have the overlap with thetraffic lane in each of the branched roads, thus the driver canrecognize effectively which traffic lane in which road the driver cantravel along in an intersection having a complex branch. Accordingly,the deviation of the vehicle from the correct route is suppressed, thusthe energy wasted to return the vehicle to the correct route can besuppressed.

Embodiment 5

A display control device 500 according to a present embodiment 5 has thesame configuration as the display control device 100 according to theembodiment 1 (FIG. 1), thus a description thereof is omitted. In thedisplay control device 500 according to the present embodiment 5, anoperation of the video signal generation unit 4 is different from thatin the embodiment 1.

FIG. 13 is a flow chart illustrating an operation of the display controldevice 500. Steps S201, S202, S203, and S205 in FIG. 13 are similar toSteps S101, S102, S103, and S105 in FIG. 4, thus a description thereofis omitted.

As illustrated in Step S204 in FIG. 13, in the present embodiment 5, thevideo signal generation unit 4 generates a video signal for displaying adriver support image to have an overlap with a region other than thetravelable traffic lane. The driver support image having the overlapwith the region other than the travelable traffic lane is an image inwhich the travelable traffic lane can be distinguished according to awidth and a length. More specifically, the driver support image havingthe overlap with the region other than the travelable traffic lane is animage in which the region other than the travelable traffic lane isdarkened.

FIG. 14 is a pattern diagram illustrating an example of the driversupport image which the display control device 500 makes the displaydevice display and a view from a driver seat in a vehicle.

As illustrated in FIG. 14, roads L6, L7, L8, and L9 are connected to aroad L5 including traffic lanes L51 and L52. Each of the roads L6, L7,L8, and L9 is a road having a one-way traffic lane. The vehiclecurrently travels along the traffic lane L51 in the road L5. The trafficlane L52 in the road L5 is an opposite traffic lane.

The travelable traffic lane determination unit 3 determines that thetraffic lane L51 in the road L5 where the vehicle is currently located,the traffic lane in the road L6, and the traffic lane in the road L9 arethe travelable traffic lanes.

As illustrated in FIG. 14, the video signal generation unit 4 makes adriver support image IMG1 have an overlap with a region other than thetraffic lane L51 in the road L5 where the vehicle is currently located,the traffic lane in the road L6, and the traffic lane in the road L9.The driver support image IMG1 is a transparent image, and the regionother than the travelable traffic lane with which the driver supportimage IMG1 has the overlap is displayed to be darkly seen.

As illustrated in FIG. 14, the video signal generation unit 4 may make amark IMG2 indicating no-entry have an overlap with the roads L7 and L8which the vehicle is restricted from entering from the travelabletraffic lane L51. The mark IMG2 indicating no-entry is a markrepresenting a vehicle-free sign, a vehicle closure sign, and a roadclosed sign, for example.

It is also applicable that the display control device 500 includes anoperation input unit such as a touch panel, and the driver operates theoperation input unit, thereby being able to switch between a setting ofmaking the driver support image have the overlap with the travelabletraffic lane as illustrated in FIG. 5 and a setting of making the driversupport image have the overlap with the region other than the travelabletraffic lane as illustrated in FIG. 14.

<Effect>

In the display control device 500 according to the present embodiment 5,the driver support image having the overlap with the region other thanthe travelable traffic lane is an image in which the region other thanthe travelable traffic lane is darkened.

Since the region other than the travelable traffic lane is darkened, thetravelable traffic lane is relatively brightly displayed, thus thedriver can effectively recognize the travelable traffic lane.Accordingly, the deviation of the vehicle from the correct route issuppressed, thus the energy wasted to return the vehicle to the correctroute can be suppressed.

In the display control device 500 according to the present embodiment 5,the video signal generation unit 4 can switch whether to make the driversupport image have the overlap with the travelable traffic lane or makethe driver support image have the overlap with the region other than thetravelable traffic lane. Accordingly, the display form desired by thedriver can be selected, thus the convenience is increased.

In the display control device 500 according to the present embodiment 5,the video signal generation unit 4 generates a video signal fordisplaying a mark indicating no-entry to have an overlap with the roadwhich the vehicle is restricted from entering from the travelabletraffic lane in addition to the overlap of the driver support image.

Accordingly, the mark indicating no-entry has the overlap with the roadwhich the vehicle is restricted from entering, thus the driver can morereliably recognize the road which the vehicle is restricted fromentering.

Embodiment 6

A display control device 600 according to a present embodiment 6 has thesame configuration as the display control device 100 according to theembodiment 1 (FIG. 1), thus a description thereof is omitted. In thedisplay control device 600 according to the present embodiment 6, anoperation of the video signal generation unit 4 is different from thatin the embodiment 1.

In the display control device 600 according to the present embodiment 6,when the feature data acquisition unit 3 acquires data indicating thatthere is no lane edge line in the travelable traffic lane, the videosignal generation unit 4 generates a video signal for displaying adriver support image to have an overlap with the travelable trafficlane.

FIG. 15 is a pattern diagram illustrating an example of the driversupport image which the display control device 600 makes the displaydevice display and a view from a driver seat in a vehicle. Asillustrated in FIG. 15, the vehicle currently travels along thetravelable traffic lane in a road L10 along a river. The road L10 doesnot have the lane edge line. The lane edge line is a line such as awhite line painted on a road surface along an outer side of a pavement.

The feature data acquisition unit 2 may acquire the data indicating thatthere is no lane edge line in the road L10 from a database on an outerside or an inner side of the display control device 600, or may acquirethe data based on an output of a sensor mounted on the vehicle formonitoring the road surface. When the feature data acquisition unit 2acquires the data indicating that there is no lane edge line, the videosignal generation unit 4 makes a driver support image IMG3 have anoverlap with the travelable traffic lane in the road L10.

<Effect>

In the display control device 600 according to the present embodiment 6,when the feature data acquisition unit 2 acquires data indicating thatthere is no lane edge line in the travelable traffic lane, the videosignal generation unit 4 generates a video signal for displaying adriver support image to have an overlap with the travelable trafficlane.

The driver support image is displayed to have the overlap with the road,which does not have the lane edge line and thus makes the driver hardlyrecognize whether the driver can travel along the road, accordingly,suppressed is the vehicle going around the road with no lane edge lineto make a detour to the other road, and the energy consumption of thevehicle can be suppressed.

Embodiment 7

A display control device 700 according to a present embodiment 7 has thesame configuration as the display control device 100 according to theembodiment 1 (FIG. 1), thus a description thereof is omitted. In thedisplay control device 700 according to the present embodiment 7, anoperation of the video signal generation unit 4 is different from thatin the embodiment 1.

In the display control device 700 according to the present embodiment 7,when the feature data acquisition unit 2 acquires data indicating that aroad surface of the travelable traffic lane is formed of a stonepavement, the video signal generation unit 4 generates a video signalfor displaying a driver support image to have an overlap with thetravelable traffic lane.

FIG. 16 is a pattern diagram illustrating an example of the driversupport image which the display control device 700 makes the displaydevice display and a view from a driver seat in a vehicle. Asillustrated in FIG. 16, the vehicle currently travels along thetravelable traffic lane in a road L80 along a river. A road surface ofthe road L80 is formed of a stone pavement. The road of the stonepavement in the specification of the present application is not limitedto a road paved with stones, but may be a road paved with tiles andbricks, for example.

The feature data acquisition unit 2 may acquire the data indicating thatthe road surface of the road L80 is formed of the stone pavement from adatabase on an outer side or an inner side of the display control device700, or may acquire the data based on an output of a sensor mounted onthe vehicle for monitoring the road surface. When the feature dataacquisition unit 2 acquires the data indicating that the road surface ofthe travelable traffic lane (that is to say, the road surface of theroad L80 in FIG. 16) is formed of the stone pavement, the video signalgeneration unit 4 makes a driver support image IMG4 have an overlap withthe travelable traffic lane in the road L11.

<Effect>

In the display control device 700 according to the present embodiment 7,when the feature data acquisition unit 2 acquires data indicating that aroad surface of the travelable traffic lane is formed of a stonepavement, the video signal generation unit 4 generates a video signalfor displaying a driver support image to have an overlap with thetravelable traffic lane.

Accordingly, the driver support image is displayed to have the overlapwith the road such as the stone pavement which makes the driver hardlyrecognize whether the driver can travel along the road, thus suppressedis the vehicle going around the road of the stone pavement to make adetour to the other road, and the energy consumed by the vehicle travelcan be suppressed.

Embodiment 8

A display control device 800 according to a present embodiment 8 has thesame configuration as the display control device 100 according to theembodiment 1 (FIG. 1), thus a description thereof is omitted. In thedisplay control device 800 according to the present embodiment 8, anoperation of the video signal generation unit 4 is different from thatin the embodiment 1.

In the display control device 800 according to the present embodiment 8,when the feature data acquisition unit 2 acquires data indicating that aroad in front of the vehicle has an overlap with a track of a light railline or a trolleybus, the video signal generation unit 4 generates avideo signal for displaying a driver support image to have an overlapwith the travelable traffic lane in the road in front of the vehicle.

FIG. 17 is a pattern diagram illustrating an example of the driversupport image which the display control device 800 makes the displaydevice display and a view from a driver seat in a vehicle. Asillustrated in FIG. 17, a track R1 of a light rail line or a trolleybusis disposed to go across the intersection N1 in a direction of the roadsL3 and L4. The vehicle currently travels along the traffic lane L13along which the vehicle can only turn right in the road L1.

When the vehicle travels along the road L1 to get close to theintersection N1, the feature data acquisition unit 2 acquires dataindicating the road in front of the vehicle has the overlap with thetrack R1 of the light rail line or the trolleybus. The feature dataacquisition unit 2 may acquire the data indicating that that the road infront of the vehicle has the overlap with the track R1 of the light railline or the trolleybus from a database on an outer side or an inner sideof the display control device 700, or may acquire the data based on anoutput of a sensor mounted on the vehicle for monitoring the roadsurface.

When the feature data acquisition unit 2 acquires the data indicatingthat that the road in front of the vehicle has the overlap with thetrack R1 of the light rail line or the trolleybus, the video signalgeneration unit 4 makes a driver support image IMG5 have an overlap withthe travelable traffic lane L42 to link the traffic lane L13 where thevehicle is currently located and the travelable traffic lane L42.

In the display control device 800 according to the present embodiment 8,at least one setting of a density, color, and pattern of the driversupport image may be changeable in accordance with an operation of auser (that is to say, a driver). For example, when the track R1 has acomplex overlap with the road, the density of the driver support imageIMG5 is increased, the color of the driver support image IMG5 is changedto a color distinguishable from the road, or the pattern of the driversupport image IMG5 is changed to a meshed pattern, thus the visibilityof the driver support image IMG5 can be increased.

<Effect>

In the display control device 800 according to the present embodiment 8,when the feature data acquisition unit 2 acquires data indicating thatthe road in front of the vehicle has the overlap with the track of thelight rail line or the trolleybus, the video signal generation unit 4generates the video signal for displaying the driver support image tohave the overlap with the travelable traffic lane in the road in frontof the vehicle.

Accordingly, the driver support image is displayed to have the overlapwith the road which makes the driver hardly recognize whether the drivercan travel along the road by reason that the roads has the overlap withthe track of the light rail line or the trolleybus, thus suppressed isthe vehicle traveling along a wrong traffic lane, and the energyconsumed by the vehicle travel can be suppressed.

In the display control device 800 according to the present embodiment 8,at least one setting of the density, color, and pattern of the driversupport image can be changed in accordance with the operation of theuser. Accordingly, even when the track of the light rail line, forexample, has the overlap with the road surface of the road, thevisibility of the driver support image can be increased.

Embodiment 9

FIG. 18 is a block diagram of a display control device 900 in a presentembodiment 9. The display control device 900 further includes anobstacle detection unit 6. The other configuration in the displaycontrol device 900 is the same as that of the display control device 100(FIG. 1), thus a description thereof is omitted.

The obstacle detection unit 6 detects an obstacle on the road in frontof the vehicle. The obstacle detection unit 6 is achieved by acombination of, for example, an ultrasonic sensor (also referred to as“sonar”), a camera, a milliwave radar, and a laser radar mounted on thevehicle with the processing circuit HW1 illustrated in FIG. 2 and theprocessor HW2 and the memory HW3 illustrated in FIG. 3.

FIG. 19 is a pattern diagram illustrating an example of the driversupport image which the display control device 900 makes the displaydevice display and a view from a driver seat in a vehicle. Asillustrated in FIG. 19, in the road L9 including traffic lanes L91 andL92, the vehicle currently travels along the traffic lane L92. In thetraffic lane L92, there is an obstacle 20 due to a road repairing, forexample. The obstacle 20 includes, for example, a signboard 21, aconstruction lamp 22, a guide 23, and a cone 24.

When the obstacle detection unit 6 of the vehicle traveling along thetraffic lane L92 detects the obstacle 20 in front of the vehicle, thevideo signal generation unit 4 makes a driver support image IMG6 have anoverlap with the travelable traffic lane L91 to link the traffic laneL92 along which the vehicle currently travels and the travelable trafficlane L91 which does not include the obstacle 20.

As illustrated in FIG. 19, the video signal generation unit 4 may makean arrow image IMG7 indicating a direction of a traffic lane change havean overlap in addition to the overlap of the driver support image IMG6to promote the change of the traffic lane to the driver moreeffectively.

<Effect>

The display control device 900 according to the present embodiment 9further includes the obstacle detection unit 6 detecting the obstacle onthe road in front of the vehicle. When there is the obstacle on thetraffic lane along which the vehicle travels, the video signalgeneration unit 4 generates the video signal for displaying the driversupport image to have the overlap with the travelable traffic lane tolink the traffic lane along which the vehicle currently travels and thetravelable traffic lane which does not include the obstacle.

In the display control device 900 according to the present embodiment 9,the obstacle is detected and the driver support image for guiding acourse of the vehicle to avoid the obstacle is displayed, thus thevehicle can smoothly avoid the obstacle. Accordingly, the energyconsumed by the vehicle travel can be suppressed.

Embodiment 10

FIG. 20 is a block diagram of a display control device 1000 in a presentembodiment 10. The display control device 1000 further includes anoncoming vehicle detection unit 7. The other configuration in thedisplay control device 1000 is the same as that of the display controldevice 100 (FIG. 1), thus a description thereof is omitted.

The oncoming vehicle detection unit 7 detects an oncoming vehicle infront of the vehicle. The oncoming vehicle detection unit 7 is achievedby a combination of, for example, an ultrasonic sensor, a camera, amilliwave radar, and a laser radar mounted on the vehicle with theprocessing circuit HW1 illustrated in FIG. 2 and the processor HW2 andthe memory HW3 illustrated in FIG. 3.

FIG. 21 is a pattern diagram illustrating an example of the driversupport image which the display control device 1000 makes the displaydevice display and a view from a driver seat in a vehicle. Asillustrated in FIG. 21, the vehicle currently travels along a trafficlane 100. An oncoming vehicle 30 comes from a front side of the vehicle.

When the oncoming vehicle detection unit 7 of the vehicle travelingalong the road L100 detects the oncoming vehicle 30 in front of thevehicle, the video signal generation unit 4 calculates a value obtainedby subtracting a width of the vehicle of the video signal generationunit 4 from a width W of the road L100 acquired by the feature dataacquisition unit 2. Then, when the calculated value is equal to orsmaller than a predetermined value, the video signal generation unit 4makes the driver support image IMG8 have an overlap with a travelabletraffic lane in the road L100, that is to say, a traffic lane alongwhich the vehicle of the video signal generation unit 4 travels. Thepredetermined value is set using a width of a general vehicle as astandard. The predetermined value is 1.8 meter, for example.

The video signal generation unit 4 temporally changes the density of thedriver support image IMG8 having the overlap with the travelable trafficlane in the road L100. The state of temporally changing the densityindicates a state of blinking the driver support image IMG8, forexample. The color of the driver support image IMG8 may be temporallychanged instead of blinking the driver support image IMG8.

<Effect>

The display control device 1000 according to the present embodiment 10further includes the oncoming vehicle detection unit 7 detecting theoncoming vehicle 30 in front of the vehicle. When the width obtained bysubtracting the width of the vehicle from the width of the road alongwhich the vehicle travels has the value equal to or smaller than thepredetermined value and the oncoming vehicle is detected in front of thevehicle, the video signal generation unit 4 generates the video signalfor displaying the driver support image to have the overlap with thetravelable traffic lane in the road along 1.0 which the vehicle travels.The video signal generation unit temporally changes the density or thecolor of the driver support image.

In the display control device 1000 according to the present embodiment10, only when the oncoming vehicle is detected in front of the vehicleand there is no sufficient road width to go by the oncoming vehicle, thedriver support image is displayed and the density or the color of theimage is temporally changed, thus it is possible to effectively attractattention of the user.

The display control devices according to the embodiment 1 to theembodiment 10 described above can be applied not only as the devicewhich can be mounted on the vehicle but also to a display control systemconstructed as a system in appropriately combination with acommunication terminal device and a server device, for example. A mobilecommunication device is, for example, a mobile phone, a smartphone, anda tablet terminal device.

As described above, when the device mounted on the vehicle, thecommunication terminal device, and the server device are appropriatelycombined to construct the display control system, each constituentelement of the display control device may be dispersedly disposed ineach device constructing the system, or may also be collectivelydisposed in one of the devices.

A configuration in a case where the constituent elements of the displaycontrol device are partially disposed in the server device is describedin an embodiment 11 described below. A configuration in a case where theelements included the display control device are partially disposed inthe mobile communication device is described in an embodiment 12described below.

Embodiment 11

FIG. 22 is a block diagram of a display control device 1110 in a presentembodiment 11. As illustrated in FIG. 22, the display control device1100 includes a vehicle position acquisition unit 1, a feature dataacquisition unit 2, a video signal output unit 5, and a server device50. The server device 50 includes a travelable traffic lanedetermination unit 3 and the video signal generation unit 4. The displaycontrol device 1100 in the present embodiment 11 includes the sameconfiguration as that of the display control devices (FIG. 1) in theembodiment 1 to the embodiment 8, thus the same reference numerals willbe assigned to the same configuration, and a common description isomitted.

The server device 50 communicates with the vehicle position acquisitionunit 1, the feature data acquisition unit 2, and the video signal outputunit 5 mounted on the vehicle via a communication network such asInternet.

Also applicable is a configuration that the server device 50 includessome or all of the vehicle position acquisition unit 1 and the featuredata acquisition unit 2. The display control device 1100 in the presentembodiment 11 may have a configuration that each of the obstacledetection unit 6 and the oncoming vehicle detection unit 7 described inthe embodiments 9 and 10 is mounted on the vehicle.

Also in the configuration according to the present embodiment 11 inwhich some of the constituent elements of the display control device1100 are disposed in the server device 500, the effect similar to thedisplay control devices according to the embodiment 1 to the embodiment10 described above can be obtained.

Embodiment 12

FIG. 23 is a block diagram of a display control device 1200 in a presentembodiment 12. As illustrated in FIG. 23, the display control device1200 includes a vehicle position acquisition unit 1, a feature dataacquisition unit 2, a video signal output unit 5, and a mobilecommunication device 60. The mobile communication device 60 includes atravelable traffic lane determination unit 3 and the video signalgeneration unit 4. The display control device 1200 in the presentembodiment 12 includes the same configuration as that of the displaycontrol devices (FIG. 1) in the embodiment 1 to the embodiment 8, thusthe same reference numerals will be assigned to the same configuration,and a common description is omitted.

The mobile communication device 60 communicates with the vehicleposition acquisition unit 1, the feature data acquisition unit 2, andthe video signal output unit 5 mounted on the vehicle via acommunication network such as Internet. The mobile communication device60 may communicate with the vehicle position acquisition unit 1, thefeature data acquisition unit 2, and the video signal output unit 5mounted on the vehicle via Bluetooth (registered trademark) which is anear field communication standard or a wireless network such as awireless LAN, for example. The mobile communication device 60 maycommunicate with the vehicle by wire such as a universal serial bus(USB) cable or a LAN cable.

Also applicable is a configuration that the mobile communication device60 includes some or all of the vehicle position acquisition unit 1 andthe feature data acquisition unit 2. The display control device 1200 inthe present embodiment 12 may have a configuration that each of theobstacle detection unit 6 and the oncoming vehicle detection unit 7described in the embodiments 9 and 10 is mounted on the vehicle.

Also in the configuration according to the present embodiment 12 inwhich some of the constituent elements of the display control device1200 are disposed in the mobile communication device 60, the effectsimilar to the display control devices according to the embodiment 1 tothe embodiment 10 described above can be obtained.

According to the present invention, each embodiment can be arbitrarilycombined, or each embodiment can be appropriately varied or omittedwithin the scope of the invention. The present invention has been shownand described in detail, the foregoing description is in all aspectsillustrative and not restrictive. It is therefore understood thatnumerous modifications and variations can be devised without departingfrom the scope of the invention.

EXPLANATION OF REFERENCE SIGNS

1 vehicle position acquisition unit, 2 feature data acquisition unit, 3travelable traffic lane determination unit, 4 video signal generationunit, 5 video signal output unit, 6 obstacle detection unit, 7 oncomingvehicle detection unit, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900,1000, 1100, 1200 display control device, 50 server device, 60 mobilecommunication device, HW1 processing circuit, HW2 processor, HW3 memory.

1-20. (canceled)
 21. A display control device for controlling a displaydevice displaying a driver support image to have an overlap with a viewfrom a driver seat in a vehicle or a live-action video in front of thevehicle, the display control device, comprising: a processor to executea program; and a memory to store the program which, when executed by theprocessor, causes the processor to perform processes comprising:acquiring a current position of the vehicle and a traffic lane where thevehicle is currently located; acquiring feature data includinginformation of a regulation in a traveling direction regarding a road infront of the vehicle; determining a travelable traffic lane along whichthe vehicle can travel in an intersection in front of the vehicle and aroad ahead of the intersection or a branch point in front of the vehicleand a road ahead of the branch point based on the current position ofthe vehicle, a traffic lane where the vehicle is currently located, andthe feature data; generating a video signal for displaying the driversupport image to have an overlap with the travelable traffic lane or avideo signal for displaying the driver support image to have an overlapwith a region other than the travelable traffic lane; and outputting thevideo signal to the display device, wherein the driver support imagehaving the overlap with the travelable traffic lane is an image having awidth in a width direction of the traffic lane, extending in a directionin which the traffic lane extends, and linking the traffic lane wherethe vehicle is currently located and the travelable traffic lane aheadof the intersection or the branch point, the driver support image havingthe overlap with the region other than the travelable traffic lane is animage in which the travelable traffic lane can be distinguishedaccording to a width and a length, and when there are a plurality oftravelable traffic lanes in the road ahead of intersection or the branchpoint, the processor generates, in generating the video signal, a videosignal for displaying the driver support image to have an overlap witheach of the plurality of travelable traffic lanes or a video signal fordisplaying the driver support image to have an overlap with a regionother than the plurality of travelable traffic lanes.
 22. The displaycontrol device according to claim 21, wherein the processor generates avideo signal for displaying the driver support image to have the overlapwith each of the plurality of travelable traffic lanes in a display formbased on a predetermined priority order.
 23. The display control deviceaccording to claim 22, wherein when there are the plurality oftravelable traffic lanes in a road straight ahead of the intersection orthe branch point, a highest priority order is assigned to a traffic lanelocated on an extension of the traffic lane where the vehicle iscurrently located in the plurality of the travelable traffic lanes. 24.The display control device according to claim 22, wherein when there arethe plurality of travelable traffic lanes in a road after turning leftat the intersection or the branch point, a higher priority order isassigned to a traffic lane located closer to a left side in theplurality of the travelable traffic lanes.
 25. The display controldevice according to claim 22, wherein when there are the plurality oftravelable traffic lanes in a road after turning right at theintersection or the branch point, a higher priority order is assigned toa traffic lane located closer to a right side in the plurality of thetravelable traffic lanes.
 26. The display control device according toclaim 22, wherein the driver support image displayed to have the overlapwith each of the plurality of travelable traffic lanes is displayed witha deeper color with increase in the predetermined priority order of thetravelable traffic lane.
 27. The display control device according toclaim 22, wherein the driver support image displayed to have the overlapwith each of the plurality of travelable traffic lanes is displayed witha longer shape with increase in the predetermined priority order of thetravelable traffic lane.
 28. The display control device according toclaim 22, wherein the driver support image displayed to have the overlapwith each of the plurality of travelable traffic lanes is displayed witha larger width with increase in the predetermined priority order of thetravelable traffic lane.
 29. The display control device according toclaim 22, wherein the driver support image is displayed to have theoverlap with a traffic lane having the predetermined priority orderhighest in the plurality of travelable traffic lanes, and an image of anarrow has an overlap with and indicates another travelable traffic lane.30. The display control device according to claim 21, wherein theprocessor can switch between a setting of making the driver supportimage have the overlap with the travelable traffic lane and a setting ofmaking the driver support image have the overlap with the region otherthan the travelable traffic lane.
 31. The display control deviceaccording to claim 21, wherein the processor generates a video signalfor displaying a mark indicating no-entry to have an overlap with a roadwhich the vehicle is restricted from entering from the travelabletraffic lane in addition to the overlap of the driver support image. 32.The display control device according to claim 21, wherein when theprocessor acquires data indicating that the road in front of the vehiclehas an overlap with a track of a light rail line or a trolleybus, theprocessor generates a video signal for displaying the driver supportimage to have an overlap with the travelable traffic lane.
 33. Thedisplay control device according to claim 21, wherein at least onesetting of a density, a color, and a pattern of the driver support imagecan be changed in accordance with an operation of a user.
 34. A displaycontrol method for controlling a display device displaying a driversupport image to have an overlap with a view from a driver seat in avehicle or a live-action video in front of the vehicle, the displaycontrol method comprising: acquiring a current position of the vehicleand a traffic lane where the vehicle is currently located; acquiringfeature data including information of a regulation in a travelingdirection regarding a road in front of the vehicle; determining atravelable traffic lane along which the vehicle can travel in anintersection in front of the vehicle and a road ahead of theintersection or a branch point in front of the vehicle and a road aheadof the branch point based on the current position of the vehicle, atraffic lane where the vehicle is currently located, and the featuredata; generating a video signal for displaying the driver support imageto have an overlap with the travelable traffic lane or a video signalfor displaying the driver support image to have an overlap with a regionother than the travelable traffic lane; and outputting the video signalto the display device, wherein the driver support image having theoverlap with the travelable traffic lane is an image having a width in awidth direction of the traffic lane, extending in a direction in whichthe traffic lane extends, and linking the traffic lane where the vehicleis currently located and the travelable traffic lane ahead of theintersection or the branch point, the driver support image having theoverlap with the region other than the travelable traffic lane is animage in which the travelable traffic lane can be distinguishedaccording to a width and a length, and when there are a plurality oftravelable traffic lanes in the road ahead of intersection or the branchpoint, generated in generating the video signal is a video signal fordisplaying the driver support image to have an overlap with each of theplurality of travelable traffic lanes or a video signal for displayingthe driver support image to have an overlap with a region other than theplurality of travelable traffic lanes.